I Stamp, I Sew

Nuggets Tins are Here

2011-11-14T21:49:00.000-05:00

I received a new shipment of window tins yesterday, so I am ready to get busy filling an order for ten Christmas nugget tins. These are one of my favorite gifts to give, but I am not sure anyone ever really eats the chocolate! Here are a couple I have made in the last few weeks.

My sister and our daughters have been crafting together for many years and just recently we decided to hit the Craft Show circuit. We participated in four events this fall and have decided to take a break until Spring. We do have some items still in our inventory and would like to offer them for sale through our blog. Go over to http://motherdaughterdesign.blogspot.com/ to see our products. We will be posting a new item each day until we deplete our inventory!

Owl Do It!

2011-11-13T21:02:00.000-05:00

A quick post tonight to show a cute owl gift card holder I am making for a customer. Her child's school mascot is an owl and she wanted these to give as teacher gifts. I think he turned out rather cute!

I used the Bag with Scallops die as my base and then got out my punches and constructed my little owl. The herringbone dsp is from the retired Night and Day designer series paper.

2011-11-01T08:24:00.000-04:00

Love is in the Air

Aren't they a lovely couple? That is my daughter, Robin and her boyfriend, Ken. They are enjoying some time away from the books in downtown Greenville. They are both seniors at Bob Jones University, graduating in May--woo hoo! I am not sure what comes next, but something tells me the future holds much happiness for these two.

Yes!!!! I absolutely love making Bitty Boxes! I think they are such a cute way to present a small gift to a co-worker, friend or child. What do I put in the Bitty Box? Chocolate, earrings, necklace, money, hair clip, etc. I am sure there are tons of different items that would fit. Each one I make is unique--one of a kind. BUT, if you wanted to make these for wedding favors, baby shower favors, birthday party favors, you can crank out lots of them with the same design.

Here are some more---

Thanks for looking!

Day of Gratitude all Spiced Up!

2011-10-19T11:02:00.000-04:00

I have taken a little time to play with Day of Gratitude set. I used Naturals Ivory cardstock for my images and used the aqua painter to color. Spice Cake is my Designer Series paper.

Card base is Cherry Cobbler and stamped with background stamp Sanded. Pumpkin Pie 1/4" ribbon and lace trim were added behind the image. The main image, sentiment and layers were lightly sponged with Soft Suede.

On this card, I used my new Score-it. All I can say is "WOW". I have another scoring tool that I have used for several years, but it doesn't allow for so many increments of scoring. Love, love, love this new product from SU!

I went super simple on this card. I love the tone on tone effect. I used Lucky Limeade for the pears and the sponging.

Hope you enjoy my experiments with this great set and designer paper!

Bringing out the Old

2011-10-10T15:57:00.000-04:00

I have always loved the Because I Care Hostess set. I think it makes such a classy card. Here are some that I made the other night for a friend.

Once I got started I couldn't stop. I have been wanting to try out the new pewter embossing powder. I think it also makes a very elegant card.

Can you see the embossing behind the butterflies?

Well, that's all for today. I need to hurry home and plant the rest of my pansies before the rain comes in. I am loving this cooler weather, but I can't say the same for my poor aching back!

Christmas is Coming!

2011-10-09T18:20:00.000-04:00

Yes, Christmas is coming and I have all my Christmas stamp sets withing easy reach. Today, I cased a card from the catalog and changed the sentiment on the front. Believe it or not, I don't have the set they used for that card! So here is my card with the recipe below. Hope you enjoy.

Stamps

Heard from the Heart

Bells and Boughs

The Sounding Joy

Cardstock

Cherry Cobbler

Very Vanilla

Ink

Cherry Cobbler

Always Artichoke

Promotion Time

2011-10-03T13:14:00.000-04:00

Check out all the neat promotions Stampin' UP has right now.

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/lauraglin/promotions

If you have never used a Big Shot, this is a great time to get your very own and also begin saving dollars on all your SU purchases!

It's Almost Time

2011-09-04T23:17:00.000-04:00

Time for what, you say? The craft show that my sister and I are doing on October 1! We spent the week-end doing some final organizing and making to-do lists. I think we are going to have an awesome display. Here are some of the items we will be selling.

Paper Bow and Tag

Tic Tac Holders

Party in a Bag

Still lots to do!

Getting Ready

2011-07-23T19:11:00.000-04:00

I am so excited! My sister, niece and I are going to participate in a Craft Sale on October 1st at my Mom and Dad's church. I love creating and love it even more when I have an outlet for it. Every nook and cranny of my house is packed with items for the sale. One of the items we will offer is called "Party in a Bag". The product includes a hand-made paper bag, note card and tea light cake. Other coordinating items will be available to add to the bag to complete the gift. We are hoping that these will be a big hit!

I am also making bunches of bitty boxes to use up retired textured paper and will use all kinds of greetings and embellishments to make a fun display. Jewelry, candy or even money fit nicely in these cute little boxes. I had four tags left from a tag set I made so I now have four Christmas Bitty Boxes ready for the sale.

Also thought I would share our breakfast plate from this morning. My daughter requested blackberry and chocolate chip pancakes. Never had that combination, but they were super good! Thanks for the blackberries, Daddy!

Lovely Gift Card Holders

2011-07-12T10:16:00.001-04:00

I just love to give and receive gift cards. I recently enjoyed watching a video on how to make these cute gift card holders. Here is a link to Dawn's blog. She does some really cool things!

I decided to flip the design on the holder (right photo). I think it turned out cute. This is an awesome way to use up some of the retired designer paper. Thanks Dawn for an awesome project!

Trying to stay cool today. It is going to be 101 degrees here in Raleigh with a heat index of 110! Unbelievable!!!

I Love the Smell of Basil

2011-07-08T10:49:00.000-04:00

I love a summer garden. Since we finally got some rain this week, all my plants are standing tall. It is time to harvest some herbs, so I started with my basil this week. Here is the tray filled with basil stems. I let them air dry before drying them in the oven. All of this yielded about 1/2 cup of dried basil. It will come in handy when my tomatoes are ready and I can make homemade tomatoe sauce--yum yum!

Scrunchie, Scrunchie!

2011-07-07T14:08:00.000-04:00

Today I want to share a crochet project that has been keeping me busy on my lunch hours. These are just too cute and are perfect for the "tweens" who think they are too old for the big hair bows, but still need something to keep that hair out of their eyes. I actually did some test marketing (unheard of for me) and found that the 5 year old and the 10 year old love them. I also found that I set my prices much too low! both Moms told me they would pay twice as much as I was going to charge. So, I have set the price at $4 and hope they sell :) Enjoy!

Hot Summer Days

2011-07-06T08:10:00.001-04:00

It amazes me how quickly time passes. My best intentions to blog regularly somehow fall by the wayside through the activities of everyday life. What have I been doing? Well, I can assure you that I have not been idle! In fact, I have been so busy with projects that I have not even taken time to photograph my creations or even special events. Well, almost too busy. Here is a pic of David, Robin and I at the Fearrington House Inn where we went to celebrate my 57th birthday.

It was a beautiful evening and the meal was top-notch! David is so good to me!

Crochet is my new passion. Robin was telling me how Dr. Bob Jones III takes one topic a year and learns everything he can about it. I thought that was a really cool thing to do to keep my mind and body sharp as I grow older. Some of my past goals, such as regular exercise have become my lifestyle, so now I can branch out and add new interests to my ever expanding list. This year it is CROCHET. Have you ever Googled a topic, given your email to a site and then been bombarded with emails about the subject? I now receive about four emails a day from different crochet websites. Once I get my fill I will have to unsubscribe :)

One of my greatest joys this summer has been watching my 22-year old daughter start to spread her creative wings. I always knew she had an eye for color and texture, but only recently has she started to attempt her own projects. She is currently exploring the "refashion" rage. I must say that I am very impressed with her diligence and expertise. Visit her blog to see what she has been doing http://robinelin.blogspot.com/

That's enough for now. I hope to have some pics of my recent projects to share by tomorrow! Have a great and godly day!

Oh So Busy!

2011-04-28T10:04:00.000-04:00

Spring is always so busy, isn't it. Between working full-time, updating my laundry room, making multiple trips to visit my parents in Virginia, church activities and services, there is very little time to stamp. This should not be! We are travelling this week-end to visit our daughter at college and bring home some of her stuff. She finishes exams next week and will be home for the summer--hooray!

Here are some pictures of the lotion jars I am working on. I have plenty more to finish up. I think I like the fabric flowers better than the paper ones, so I have been working on those when I have a few minutes to kill between activities.

I look forward to being able to post more frequently--very, very soon!

Remembering Easter

2011-04-19T09:25:00.000-04:00

Our children grow up so fast! I just finished preparing an Easter treat for my daughter and was feeling a little sad. What happened to the time? I still anticipate the pressures of finding the perfect suit with matching tie for my little boy whose shirt tail will be hanging out the back by the time we get to church. And the fun times trying on hats to match my daughter's frilly Easter dress, hand-made by Grandma. This year, it is just me and the hubby. Our son is off in Chicago and our daughter will not be able to come home from college. Church service will be awesome, Easter dinner quiet, but our Jesus is ALIVE and what more could we ask?

Here is the gift set I made to send to our daughter. Hope she likes it!

A Long Week!

2011-04-07T16:02:00.000-04:00

It has been such a long week for me. I know it is because I am looking forward to going to my Mom and Dad's for the week-end and I will see my sister. I have lived in North Carolina for over 20 years, but I still call Virginia "home". Here are several projects I have worked on this week. My evenings have been pretty hectic, so I don't have much to post, but hopefully I will have a gift ensemble to show tomorrow.

I made this nugget tin for a co-worker who had a birthday this week. Purple is her favorite color and she loves chocolate!

This set of Thank-you's were cased from Becky Roberts (Inking Idaho). I love, love her creations. I found these clear acrylic boxes at Stamp on This. They really give your card sets a professional look.

I love how this card turned out. It says "Congratulations" the inside. I thought it would make a nice graduation card--something a little different! I pretty much copied a card by "Penquin Stamper". She is another stamper that I just love to case!

Nature Walk Birthday

2011-04-04T12:45:00.001-04:00

Such a beautiful day! The sun is shining and we will see 85 degrees by this afternoon. Makes me want to get outside--except for the pollen. Oh well! Maybe the downpour expected tomorrow will help that situation. I had a little time in my craft room this week-end. Here are two birthday cards I made using the Nature Walk set.

Thanks for looking!

Rainy Wednesday

2011-03-30T08:46:00.000-04:00

Here is North Carolina it is a very rainy day. That's okay though. We have put down grass seed and planted trees and moved trees--rain is a good thing!

Today I want to share a project that I have been working on lately. I hope to get some sales for Easter and Mother's Day. As much as I would like to help the family finances with my stamping hobby, I am happy if I just make enough to get a pedicure every two weeks! Maybe when I retire from my full-time job I can dive into Stampin' Up and make some real money. In the meantime, I am having a blast with all the cool tools and fabulous papers and ribbons.

Love, love, love these little bunnies! Have a great Wednesday!

Spring Day Ahead

2011-03-22T09:44:00.000-04:00

Today is going to be in the 80's! Woo Hoo!!!! I am so ready for warm weather. I just wanted to make a quick post this morning. It has almost been a week since my last post. I have been working on some items for my sister to sell at a craft sale at her school the first week of April. I didn't take a picture of the cute little boxes I made so I will have to make up a few more so I can capture them. So come back soon to see them. They are soooo cute!

Today I want to share a card that I made quite a while back, but didn't have square envelopes. Now I do so this was photographed and added to my stash. I sold this stamp set so this is definitely a one of a kind card for me!

Blessed Mother

2011-03-16T22:19:00.002-04:00

I am blessed to have a loving, talented Mother. She will be 80 years old on April 7^th and she is amazing. She loves to cook and trips to her house always add a few pounds to my body. But it is definitely worth it! In years past, she has been a superb seamstress and gardener. The thing I love about my mother the most is her faith in her children. She has always encouraged me to do my best and has been a great example for me to follow. She and my Dad have been married for over 60 years. Wow!!!
When I saw the new SU set "Blessed Mother", I thought of my Mother. This card is in honor of her.

March is Birthday Month!

2011-03-15T22:01:00.002-04:00

March is such a big birthday month for our family. There are six family members and three good friends with March birthdays. Needless to say, I have been devoting most of my stamping time to fulfilling this need. Most of them are men, so I am really challenged to make cards without a lot of frills. Here is the card I made for my hubby who will be turning 55 on March 27. Gotta love the "Lovely as a Tree"!!

March is Marching On

2011-03-14T22:03:00.002-04:00

We are having a beautiful Spring here in North Carolina. It is still not warm enough for me to want to be outside in the garden very much, but by the end of this week that should change. March Madness provided much stamping time for me this past week-end and I have several items to share. I will give one a day so I have blog posts for the entire week! Woo Hoo!! When I started this blog I had no idea it would be so difficult to post daily.

The first project for this week is a baby card I made for one of my Sunday School girls. A few years ago I taught a 5^th grade girls class. Now, one of them has a baby! I am feeling really old! I used the Baby Bundle stamp set and pretty papers from the Sweet Pea stack. I know Destiny will like the card and especially the Target gift card tucked inside.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great Monday!

Where Does the Time Go?

2011-03-08T21:55:00.002-05:00

Just because I have not posted to my blog doesn't mean I have been idle. I have been crocheting every spare minute I have and when I am home, these mini clip boards have been my passion. My sister and I are planning to do a couple of craft shows this fall and I wanted to get started on some things. I understand that these are great items that sell well.
Hope you enjoy!

Boy, What a Wonderful Week-end!

2011-02-28T20:43:00.002-05:00

Well, I haven't done any stamping for a while, but I have really been enjoying time with my daughter. She is a junior at Bob Jones University and she took a long week-end to come home. One of the many things she wanted to do was learn how to make my "famous" Monkey Bread. Here is the recipe and a picture of her creation. She did a great job!

Quick Monkey Bread

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

3 (10 ounce) cans refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (honey butter flavor)

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

Sprinkle pecans evenly in bottom of a well-greased 10 inch Bundt pan. Set pan aside.

Combine sugar and cinnamon. Cut biscuits into quarters; roll each piece in sugar mixture and layer in pan. Combine brown sugar and butter; pour over dough. Bake at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes. Cool bread 10 minutes in pan; invert onto serving platter.

Yield: one 10 inch coffee cake

I have also been working with yarn. I don't know what got into me, but I just decided one day several weeks ago that I needed to crochet…..or knit. So, I have been doing both. Here is a project I finished over the week-end. I hope to see it on one of my favorite little girls soon!

Hopefully, I will have some paper crafts to show this week!

Oh What a Beautiful Day

2011-02-19T16:35:00.000-05:00

It has been absolutely gorgeous in North Carolina today! After a few morning hours in the yard, I came in to finish up these two cards so I could share them today. There are so many March birthdays in my family that I don't know if I will be able to keep up. Most of them are men, so I really have to get busy with the masculine creativity. I just got an order with some new sets that should help with that.

Hope you enjoy!

Happy Hump Day

2011-02-16T09:09:00.000-05:00

I love Wednesdays! Why? Because I get to go to church tonight and learn from God's Word and fellowship with some really awesome people! Wednesday also marks the middle of the work week and that means the week-end will be here soon. Don't we all live for the week-ends?!!

I wanted to share another card I made while stamping with my sister and niece a few weeks ago. Seems like lots of our friends are saying farewell to their parents. Though we know they will be reunited someday, it is still so hard to part with them. I will be sending this one to a special friend who recently lost his father.

Happy Tuesday Everyone

2011-02-15T08:38:00.000-05:00

Tonight is our annual Faithful Friends meal and reveal. I didn't participate last year, but am looking forward to having a Faithful Friend this year. It is sometimes hard to keep my identity a secret though, because my craftiness is well known in my church :)

I want to share another project I did for Valentines. I found this on Splitcoast and they are so easy and pack lots of WOW!

These little "packs" hold Ghirardelli chocolate squares. Yummy!

Happy Valentine’s Day

2011-02-14T21:43:00.003-05:00

Oh, it has been a long time since I posted, but I have been very busy. Here are some of my recent projects. I am really going to try to get in a routine with my blog posts!

Getting Ready for a New Year

2010-12-30T18:57:00.005-05:00

As we approach the end of 2010, I am busy formulating a strategy for 2011! Join me as I launch my Stampin' Up business by conducting workshops once a month. My goal is to begin working part-time with my current employer as I devote more time to establishing my dream career—becoming a successful Stampin' Up Demonstrator.

Love is in the Air Workshop
Nothing speaks of love more than Valentine's Day. I always think of the Victorian hand-made cards when I think of Valentine's Day. Children hand out Valentines to their school friends and always want a special card for their teacher. Then, there is that special someone in your life that a store bought card just will not express the love that you want to declare. Why not put your own ideas into a special project this year. Join me for a Valentine workshop on Tuesday, January 25, 2011. Here is a sample of the crafting options you will have:

You will have the opportunity to make one of these cute cards, a three-dimensional project and a gift tag.
Take a minute to look at the current promotion that Stampin' Up is running. Download the pamphlet to see the details!

Click here to download flyer.
No need to wait for January 25^th. Go to my on-line store and order anytime!
Click here to order online 24-7
Seats are limited for this workshop so enroll soon to insure your seat.
Lauraglin1@gmail.com
Workshop Fee:        $10 (includes all supplies for three projects)
Time:            7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Place:            217 Wellington Drive, Knightdale, NC 27545
(Workshop fee will be waived with a minimum order of $50)
Questions? Call me at 919-593-6261

Has it really been a month??????

2010-11-11T20:21:00.005-05:00

I have such good intentions to post daily to my blog, but life somehow gets in the way! I have been crafting though and have some new items to post.

Today, I finished this matchbox dresser. The top and bottom pieces have been sitting on my table for over a week, but I finally got the inspiration I needed to finish it. I love vintage! I pulled out some lace that I have had for decades and played with it until I got the look I wanted. The top and bottom use Raspberry Tart DP and the drawers are made from Early Espresso. The Patterned Pine trees were stamped with Kiwi Kiss. I used Rose Red to stamp "Merry Christmas" from the Bells and Boughs set onto the Kiwi Kiss shape.

I plan to fill the drawers with little gifts for one of my Sisters-in-law for Christmas.

Fall is in the Air

2010-10-12T19:11:00.002-04:00

I just love Fall! After the summer we had, the cooler temperatures are so welcome! The new French Foilage is the perfect set to create your Fall cards. My sister in law has an October birthday, so this is her card.

Paper: Naturals Ivory, Concord Crush

Ink: Concord Crush, More Mustard, Pear Pizazze

Ribbon: Concord Crush Twill

Other: Wide Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, rhinestones

Stamps: French Foilage, Watercolor Trio

Thanks for looking and Happy Birthday Jackie!

2010-10-05T21:14:00.001-04:00

Holy Family

2010-10-05T21:06:00.002-04:00

I still love this Christmas set. I used Cherry Cobbler for my base and added a layer of Always Artichoke and Deck the Halls dp. The Cherry Cobbler twill tape is awesome. It is so easy to tie!

Thanks for looking!

Something a Little Different

2010-09-30T21:36:00.002-04:00

I just love this set--Kimono Kids! I made two cards with bright colors, which I will share later. But then I decided to take a little different approach. This one was so much quicker to make and I just love the way it turned out.

The base is Crumb Cake sponged with Early Espresso. The DP is from the Woodland Walk pack. I added some ribbon and a vintage brad and presto--we are done!

Thanks for looking!

Christmas Goodie Bag

2010-09-29T08:11:00.002-04:00

It is hard to believe that October will be here this week! With the change in the weather, I have found myself reaching for my Thanksgiving and Christmas stamp sets. I love to give baked goods to my friends at Christmas and this little bag will be great for giving six of my homemade cookies! Mmmm.....think I need to get to the kitchen and mix up a batch right now!

I used the fancy favor bag die to cut out the bag. I added a strip of black at the top so the bag could be a little taller. The bottom of the bag uses the Newsprint DP. The red rickrack is from a spool that I bought over 20 years ago. I do believe that I will NEVER use all of it! The tag was made with the Tags til Christmas set. That is a set that I plan to use many times for the holidays.

Hope you like this little treat bag. Now off to work so I can go home and do some baking!

Christmas is Coming!

2010-09-28T07:32:00.003-04:00

Don't you just love this little guy! After the long hot summer we have experienced, flying down a snow covered hill sounds so refreshing. The weather has finally broken and we are enjoying some fall weather--nice even though it is rainy!

This card uses a base of Baja Breeze that has been embossed with the new Northern Flurry embossing folder. The designer paper is from the Candy Cane Christmas pack and that luscious ribbon is the Blushing Bride Stitched Poly Ribbon. Last but not least, don't you just love this little sledding bunny from the Merry Crittermas set! I will be pulling this set out many times this Christmas season!

Hope you have enjoyed this little flurry of winter. Happy Tuesday!

I Love Vintage!

2010-09-27T08:07:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I love the vintage look and I think the folks at SU do too. This is another of the wonderful Christmas sets in the Holiday Mini this year. I can't wait to make more cards using this set call Welcome Christmas.

Here I used a Crumb Cake base, Basic Black and Very Vanilla layers with the music print from the Newsprint DP. A splash of Cherry Cobbler and there you have it!

Happy Monday everyone! We are finally getting some rain here in NC! Thanks you LORD!

Greeting Card Kids

2010-09-25T11:10:00.002-04:00

Today I have two takes on the Greeting Card Kids set. I just love this set because the vintage look appeals to me so much. The first card is done in Melon Mambo, Black and Garden Green. The second one uses Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green. One is a little more shabby chic and the other more classic vintage. But, I love them both!

I'm Back

2010-09-24T07:52:00.002-04:00

Actually, I haven't gone anywhere. But it has been way too long since I posted here. The summer just kind of got away with me. Here it is the end of September--where has this year gone? Of course you wouldn't know it was September by looking at our temperatures here in NC. Today is supposed to be in the high 90's! I am so ready for cooler weather!

Today I am posting a card that I made for a lady in my church who wanted a "Fall" card for her secret pal. I thought of rust colored chyrsanthemums and put this little beauty together.

Stamps: Watercolor Trio, Perfect Punches
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla
Ink: Cajun Craze, Wild Wasabi, Night of Navy
Extras: Curly Label Punch and Die, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, 1 1/4 inch striped grosgrain ribbon in Night of Navy

I like how this turned out and may have to make another one for my stash!

Have a great Friday and week-end!

Western Elements

2010-07-27T21:57:00.002-04:00

I am trying to use up retired Designer Paper. This week I have been concentrating on Western Sky. This was one of my first purchases of designer paper and I loved it at the time. Well, we all know that with new products coming out all the time, we tend to put away the old. My files are full and I want EVERYTHING in the new catalog. Something has to go.

I basically CASED this card from one I saw on Stampin' Connection. I think my colors are different and I used a small piece of Western Sky for the first layer.

Isn't this pretty?

Bali Breeze Cards

2010-07-17T09:55:00.004-04:00

Bali Breeze Birthday Set

2010-07-17T09:33:00.005-04:00

When I find a cute design, I immerse myself in my paper and my tools. Here is another version of the card purse I first posted earlier this week. This time I did not copy the card designs! Yes, they are originals!

For those who have requested a tutorial, I have to direct you to my source as I could not improve on her instructions:

http://www.stampingpro.com/

She has wonderful instructions with great pics!

Click on Instruction Sheets at the top of her page and you want "One Sheet Wonders" selections. She has an amazing site. Be sure to check her out!

Just Playing Around

2010-07-14T13:30:00.005-04:00

Recently I have been playing around with blending the old with the new. I saw a cute "bag in a box" design that is really a Card Purse. I just had to try one. It is the same idea as the larger gift bag I make, just smaller. The finished bag holds six cards and envelopes. I made this set a "Thank You" gift set. There are two of each card design.

The "old" in this set is the retired Delicate Dots designer paper. The "new is the Perfect Punches and Elements of Style stamp sets. They are both great sets and I know I will be using them a lot!

Because I Care

2010-07-02T08:10:00.002-04:00

I can tell you that this is going to be my go to set for this year! I don't think you can make a bad card with this image. I can see birthday, get well, congratulations and many more!

What? Another gift bag?

2010-06-29T09:50:00.002-04:00

Oh yeah! This one is made with the new SU designer paper, Greenhouse Gala. The card uses the new stamp set, Friends Never Fade. I am loving all the new stuff in the new catalog which goes live on Thursday!

Stay tuned for more samples from the new SU goodies!

New Babies on the Way

2010-06-22T21:26:00.003-04:00

One of my co-workers will soon be Gigi to twins! I made this card to send to her daughter who is one of my former students. I love this Stampin' Up wheel! I can see many cards rolled out with this beauty.

I will be posting new cards quite often. I just returned from my semi annual gathering with my sister, neice and daughter. We stamped for three days! What fun and I have over 25 great cards to share.

Farewell Birdie

2010-06-09T08:45:00.002-04:00

I am actually quite sad to see this set retire. I haven't used it in a while, but the individual stamps in the set coordinate with so many other sets. This is one retiring set that I will be holding on to for a long time!

Stamp Set: Bird on a Branch
Cardstock: Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Baja Breeze Pattern Paper
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Nestibilities, Black Satin Ribbon, Pearls, Jumbo Brad, Clear embossing powder

Thanks for looking!

Exciting Summer

2010-05-29T14:28:00.003-04:00

My son, Patrick paid us a visit yesterday on his way to the Piscah National Forest near Asheville, NC. He will be doing trail maintenance in the forest for his summer job. After his two week training, he is pumped about this opportunity! At 23, I think he has found something that he will enjoy doing for a living. Now, I have to admit that the Mom in me doesn't much like to think of my son on a search and rescue team, but it is an honorable profession. Patrick has always wanted to help others. This will allow him to do that in the extreme way! My little hot shop skate boarder has grown up

Now, on to my paper crafts. I wanted to show a card that I made a while ago, but have never posted. I actually sold this one and will have to depart with it tomorrow. This was my first attempt with the Greenhouse Garden set from Stampin' Up. I must admit that I totally cased this card, but it is so lovely! Hope you enjoy seeing it!

Memorial Day weekend has begun with a trial 5k walk to prepare for the real thing on June 12 when I will be walking for the cure in honor of my friend, Cynthia Groff. She and her family are so special to me. Her cancer has become active again recently and her doctors don't give her much more time. I count it an honor to walk for her.

Water Water Everywhere!

2010-05-24T16:03:00.002-04:00

We had so much rain this past weekend, how fitting that I would choose to play with my Watercolor Trio set from SU! Oh my word--this is an awesome set. The possibilities are endless! I actually cased this set but don't have the original artist handy. Aren't they lovely?

The dp is retired Porcelain Prints. I have to admit that this project didn't put a dent in my stash. Hope you enjoy looking as much as I did making!

Happy Monday to everyone!

Graduation Time

2010-05-22T19:02:00.003-04:00

It is that time of year again. Seems like we get a graduation or wedding announcement every other day! We have a very special young lady who helps on our church bus and she is graduating from high school on Tuesday. I made this set to give to her at her graduation party. I plan to stuff the drawers of the little dresser with money, candy and jewelry.

I used one of my favorite stamp sets--Upsy Daisy. The card base and the matchbox dresser are Pacific Point. I used Riding Hood Red to match the non-SU designer paper. Hope you like the set! I know Amy will!

Stampin' Ups Color Renovation

2010-05-19T08:11:00.002-04:00

Stampin' Up has thrown out some out dated colors and added fresh new ones to their color families and I think you will agree that the change is awesome! New catalogs will be available on July 1, but here is a sneak peek of what is to come!

Click Here to see the Color Renovation Chart

Yet Another Gift Bag!

2010-05-15T10:05:00.002-04:00

You would think that I was tired of making these cute little bags, but, think again. My den is full of them! Mother's Day gave me some good sales and now I am concentrating on Graduation themed gift ensembles. But, before I post any of those, I had to let you see this one. Isn't it gorgeous? This would make a great bridal shower, wedding or birthday package. It just looks so summery to me.

This is a very busy weekend for my family. Robin is in the wedding of one of her high school friends who happens to be our Pastor's daughter. We are friends with the family so have been involved in many of the events throughout the week. Today is my main responsibility of cutting the wedding cake! We have a rather large church, so I will be very busy! David gets the clean up detail. I am just glad they are having a coffee bar!

That is all for today. Have a wonderful, blessed Saturday!

2010-05-06T07:58:00.002-04:00

One of my friends at church has a daughter turning 16 in June. I made this ensemble for her. Isn't it the cutest thing! Now she wants me to make her a fabric tote using black with pink polka dots. I am glad that I like pink!

These little gift bags are sooooo much fun to make. I can't wait to get off my real job so I can run home and create!

Thanks for looking!

My newest favorite thing

2010-05-04T12:33:00.003-04:00

I have been having so much fun lately making gift bag ensembles. I want to share one with you today. But before I do that I want to give credit to Heather Klump who gave me the idea in the first place. Here is a link to her beautiful gift set: http://www.stampinconnection.com/photo/vintage-bella-bag?context=user

Now, here is one of the first ones that I made:

Don't you just love this paper! I have received so many requests for the instructions for this bag that I decided to post them here just to make it a little easier.

Start by making a box. Cut your cardstock 8 1/2 x 7 and score at 1 1/2 on all four sides. Cut one slit in each corner of the cardstock and form your box. I use sticky strip on the tabs to make the box a little more secure.

Next, cut two strips of DP 6 x 10 1/2. These will make the sides of your bag. Again, I use sticky strip to adhere the sides to the box. Now you can add the bottom strip by cutting two strips of cardstock 1 1/2 x 10 1/2. Use your choice of punch to decorate the edge. I tried several ways of forming the closure, but this seems to work the best. I cut two top note pieces and folded in half. They are secured in place with a corduroy button on both sides. Next, I used my cropodile to place two large grommetts on each side. I cut two pieces of ribbon 13 inches and threaded through the grommets and tied to make the handles. To close, I cut a piece of satin ribbon long enough to go under the button on the back of the bag, across the top and under the button on the front and then tie in a bow. Easy Schmeezy! I will post some more samples later. Hope you will try one of these, but BEWARE! They are addicting!

Masculine Birthday

2010-04-12T07:58:00.002-04:00

My brother-in-law has a birthday this month. Here is the card I made to send him.

2010-04-12T07:57:00.000-04:00

And one more for Mother's Day:

2010-04-12T07:55:00.001-04:00

And another:

I'm Back

2010-04-12T07:50:00.005-04:00

Believe it or not, I am back! Wow, what a strange few months I have had. But, hopefully, life will return to some normalcy now. Stamping time WILL be scheduled so that I don't have another dry spell! Here are some things I made over the week-end.

Mother's day cards:

It's Been a Long Time

2010-02-16T21:00:00.003-05:00

Work has consumed my life!!!! But, I had a chance to go to my parents' house for a week-end of stamping with my sister. This is the first card I made. I really like how it turned out even though the color combination gave me a problem at first!

I will post more of my week-end creations in the next few days.

Snow Holiday

2010-01-30T21:49:00.013-05:00

We finally got a significant snow event in Raleigh! It has been so nice to stay inside and craft all day. Church is postponed until 2:00PM tomorrow, so we can sleep in and take it easy again! Monday is a question mark because the temperature is so low there won't be much melting of the ice and snow. I can work from home, but my hubby is supposed to travel north. That may not happen!

So here is a look at what I have been doing. Hope you like!

Tomorrow's the Big Day!

2010-01-27T14:32:00.004-05:00

Well, I didn't think this day would get here this quickly. Tomorrow is my baby girl's 21st birthday! I can't be that old! I am so thankful for her. She loves the Lord with all her heart and desires to serve Him with her life. Since she is away at college, I made her this Hershey Nugget cake. I know she will enjoy plucking a piece or two a day. I just hope UPS gets it there in good shape! Thanks to my Mom for wrapping all the little nuggets!

Oh Happy Moments

2010-01-15T21:16:00.002-05:00

I was so excited when I got my SU order on Wednesday, but couldn't play until last night. Then, my SD card was locked and the little tab thing had broken off so I couldn't unlock it. That means I couldn't take a picture. Now, I have a new SD card and have a card to share with you.

This is one of the images from the Happy Moments set. I actually ordered this in the clear mount and I LOVE them!!!! Did I say that I absolutely LOVE the new clear mount stamps from Stampin' Up? They are awesome!!!!

Also highlighted on this card is the new Sweet Pea DP. This is actually a large pad of 12x12 paper and the designes are sooo gorgeous! I also used another one of the new stamp sets--Well Scripted. Hope you like it!

Stampin' Up Hits a Home Run!

2010-01-14T07:58:00.002-05:00

Have you seen the new clear mount stamps from Stampin' Up? OMW!!! They are absolutely the best thing to happen in the stamp world since mmm....SU's die cut stamps! I must admit that I was reluctant to take the plunge mainly because I have used clear mount stamps from just about every manufacturer and I have always been disappointed in the end result. When I got my first set from SU, I wasted no time in using it. The sentiment on this card is from the Well Scripted set in the Occassions Mini Catalog. The image came out clear and the stamp stayed on the block even when I cleaned it. Thank you SU for a job well done! I received two big orders of new stuff this week and tonight is a stamping night for me! I hope to post lots of new creations tomorrow so come on back!

Baby It's Cold Outside!

2010-01-10T14:53:00.005-05:00

I know it it is the middle of the winter, but we are not used to this many cold days in a row here in North Carolina. It was 22 degrees this morning and tonight it is going down to 19--brrrrrr! So, what do I find to entertain myself on cold days like this? Well, the oatmeal cookies are almost done and I have a bowl of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ready to bake. Yesterday, I was able to do some stamping and I wanted to share my creations with you before we get into another week.

I have a secret sister at church and her birthday is next week. I found this really pretty notepad in Marshall's the other day and I used it for inspiration in making the nugget box. I will use the Happy Birthday flower to decorate the gift bag or box when I get the rest of the gift together. This was a great project for using my die cut machine. Oh what fun I had!

The next project also using my Big Shot. This time I used the pillow box die. But, there was a slight problem. The finished box was not big enough for the hand sanitizer that I wanted to put in the box. So, I cut two pillow boxes. The first one I cut down the middle. Then I cut the ends off the other one and added this center to the middle of the two pieces of the first pillow box--does that make sense? I used score tape to attach the three pieces together. Then I finished the box as you normally would. Next I added a band of designer paper to cover the seams and some ribbon and there you go. I was pretty happy with the results!

Now one last thing to share. I am hosting a Birthday Card Workshop this week and this is a set of cards that I made featuring the current In-Colors. I love the Uppsy Daisy set and this technique. Hope you have enjoyed my projects today and come back soon to see new items!

Terrific Tuesday!

2010-01-05T08:02:00.002-05:00

Today is the day! You may order from the Stampin' Up Occassions Mini Catalog beginning today through March 31, 2010. You may also earn free products from the Sale-a-bration brochure for every $50 you spend through March 31, 2010. This is an exciting time of year and you don't want to miss the great savings. So, click on the catalogs on the left sidebar and make your wish list. Then join me for an "All About Birthdays" workshop on Thursday, January 14, 2010. The fee for the workshop is $25 and you will make 12 birthday cards. What a great way to prepare for the new year! Just think--no more trips to the Hallmark store the day before that family birthday you don't want to miss!

As an added incentive for you to take advantage of the great deals currently available, I will waive the workshop fee if you place a $50 merchandise order on the night of the workshop. Book your own workshop and receive a nice gift from me! This will be lots of fun, so email me today at lauraglin1@gmail.com. Seats are limited so first come, first serve.

Have a great day!

It is finally time!

2010-01-04T20:29:00.003-05:00

Yes!!! It is finally time to order from the new Occassions Mini Catalog and are you in for a treat! See my sidebar to view the new catalog. And what goes along with this exciting event? You guessed it--Sale-a-bration! Beginning tomorrow, you can earn one item from the Sale-a-bration brochure for every $50 you spend. Once the event if over, you won't be able to get these great stamps, so download your brochure today and place your order as soon as possible!

Here is a project I just completed using the new Vintage Vogue stamp set. It is a must have for

all you shabby chic gals like me!

Say Goodbye to 2009

2009-12-30T16:02:00.002-05:00

It is almost over and I don't know where it went! I am talking about the year 2009! I don't know about anyone else, but it seems like only yesterday that I started writing 2009 on my checks.

Most years I try to make some resolutions in January. This year I decided to change the terminology a little and see if that helps me accomplish what I have in mind. This year I am setting goals. My first goal is to do a better job at posting to my blog. I know--saying I want to do a better job at something is not actually a measurable goal--so I aspire to post to my blog at least three times a week in 2010.

My second goal for 2010 is to have one workshop a month to get my SU business up and running. My first quarter as a demonstrator was very disappointing, but I didn't put much effort into it. So, this year, I WILL do better!

Goal number three is to exercise at least three times a week. Boy, that one seems to show up every year and fizzles out around May. I am determined to stick with it this year!

Okay, enough of that! The real reason we are here is to see my card for the Color Dare #49. I had such a good time making this card because I was able to use some new stuff! I absolutely love the new Vintage Vogue set that becomes available on January 4. I can see myself using this one for years to come. The colors this week were Soft Suede, Cameo Coral and Bashful Blue. I combined Always and Vintage Vogue for a very shabby chic card. Hope you like it! This is my last card as a Color Dare design team member. I am anticipating an event in our lives in 2010 that will require a lot of my time, so I bowed out for this round. Stay tuned for the announcement of this special event!

Season of Thanksgiving

2009-12-03T08:07:00.004-05:00

November is such a special month to me. First of all, it is the month that David and I were married. We celebrated 31 years of marriage on November 25 and I am so blessed to have such a loving and dedicated husband. I pray the LORD will give us at least another 30 years together!

Thanksgiving is in November also and this holiday always makes me pause and count the many blessings the LORD has given me. Throughout the year, I sometimes get my eyes off the blessings and focus on the trials, but when I think about where I was when the LORD saved me, my heart rejoices and overflows with love for my Saviour!

Then December arrives and I turn my focus to the LORD JESUS CHRIST who left heaven to come to this earth as a tiny baby, knowing that his ultimate destination was the cruel death on the cross of Calvary. Whew! I think I will stand up and shout and run around in circles for a little bit! HE willingly gave his life so all of humanity could go to Heaven. All we must do is accept HIS free gift of salvation. This Christmas, if you don't know for sure that you will go to Heaven when you die, confess your sin to the LORD and ask HIM to come into your heart and save you from Hell. 1 John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." And in Romans chapter 10 and verse 9, Paul tells us "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." And if that doesn't convince you, he emphasizes this truth again in verse 13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved."

Take time this Christmas to examine your heart and if you haven't asked the LORD to take up residence in your heart, do it now!

Well, another week has gone by and I have only one post! I am sure I will have more things to show you by the week-end. I have lots of projects in progress and it is the time to finish them up and send them out!

Today's post if the Color Dare #45. This week we were to use Dusty Durango, Very Vanilla and Kraft. This was an easy combo to work with and my creative mind immediately went to my Priceless stamp set. I had to dust it off a bit, but I think you will agree that it is the perfect image for these colors. Hope you enjoy all the entries for this week's challenge and try to play along next time!

http://colordare.blogspot.com/

Thank Goodness for Wednesdays!

2009-11-25T18:41:00.002-05:00

Well, I had good intentions to post something everyday this week, but as you can see, it didn't happen! I guess that getting ready for the holidays has really taken more time that I expected. Really, I am not as young as I used to be and it takes me soooo long to clean my house. But, everything is squeaky clean now and the house is full of good things to eat and I can relax and enjoy my family.

These are my cards for the Color Dare this week. We were to use Soft Suede, Real Red and So Saffron. I thought this was a very masculine combination and decided to make some birthday cards for the guys in my life. Head over to www.colordare.blogspot.com to see all the other entries by the design team.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy every minute with family and friends!

Could it be Wednesday Again!

2009-11-18T10:09:00.002-05:00

Lordy, Lordy! I have got to do better than once a week posting to my blog! With the East Coast Ladies Retreat over, I should have more time to devote to my stamping passion. I love giving handmade gifts, so I had better get busy!

This is my entry for the Color Dare #43. We were to use Chocolate Chip, Rose Red and Green Galore. For some reason, I wanted to do a simple Christmas card with this combination. It is hard to see in the photo, but there are sparkles on the snowflakes and on the reindeer's nose (or course!)

Take time to check out all the other great entries for this week's challenge www.colordare.blogspot.com

Happy stamping to all and check back often. I promise to post on a more regular basis!

Wednesday Again?

2009-11-11T23:15:00.003-05:00

I can't believe a whole week has gone by without posting to my blog! Life is very busy right now, but after this weekend, I hope to have lots more time to stamp and play with my cool toys!

Today's Color Dare was to use Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue and Really Rust. I chose the God's Beauty set for today's card. I saw this layout on SCS last week and thought it was so nice that I had to try it. I think these colors have a fall look, but very light as well.

Join in the fun and play along with us. Got to www.colordare.blogspot.com to see the other design team entries.

Time for Another Color Dare

2009-11-04T08:44:00.003-05:00

It is Wednesday and that means another Color Dare! We are on #41 and what a beautiful combo we have this week! We are using Very Vanilla, Bermuda Bay and Soft Suede. I reached for my new Herb Expressions set and Thoroughly Modern DP. They are perfect for this combo! Hope you like what I came up with. Head over to the Color Dare blog to play along:

www.colordare.blogspot.com

I look forward to seeing your entries!

Can't Get Enough of These Cuties

2009-11-03T11:16:00.006-05:00

I just can't make enough of these gift card holders!

It is a beautiful day in NC today. The sun has been hiding for so long that my spirits were sinking :( But today....bright and shiny! I actually took the day off to get some things done here at the house. My life is currently consumed with the East Coast Ladies Retreat that is coming up very soon. We have just 10 more days before we host 1,000 women from area churches. It is going to be a wonderful retreat. My biggest challenge is pacing myself so I don't get run down and crabby. That would not be very Christ-like now would it! I hope some sunshine and exercise in the yard and a distraction from the details of the retreat will give me some much needed energy!

Have a blessed day!!

Love These Gift Card Holders!

2009-11-02T12:05:00.006-05:00

When I find something I like, I go crazy! Everyone gives gift cards during the holidays, so when I found this super easy, super cute gift card holder, I couldn't resist. Here are the ones I have made so far. There will be more to come!

Color Dare #40--a little late posting!

2009-10-30T16:13:00.002-04:00

Well, you might guess by the late posting of the Color Dare that this has been a very busy week for me. I am soooo looking forward to a relaxing week-end. I hope the weather man is right and we have sunshine tomorrow. We were supposed to see the sun this afternoon, but that hasn't happened!

Enough of that--let's talk about the color dare. I just love these colors together--way to go Riley! We were to use Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede and Almost Amethyst. This is what I came up with. I thought the Wandering Words set was the perfect choice. I love this card--hope you do too!

Gift Card Holder

2009-10-24T17:19:00.005-04:00

This is a sweet little gift card holder I made for a shower I will be attending tomorrow. It was super easy to make and I really like how it turned out.

I pulled out my Polka Dot Punches set and stamped the heart image on Not Quite Navy with Versamark, then embossed with silver embossing powder.

The Bella Bleu DP was perfect to give it a very romantic look. Tucked inside is a Target gift card. I am sure Shelley and Bradley will be able to use that!

What a Week!

2009-10-23T20:36:00.010-04:00

It is always this way when we go out of town for the week-end. It takes me all week to catch up on everything. Besides that, my church is hosting a ladies conference in four weeks and I am chairman of the gym decorating committee. You do realize how big a gym is.... We have 91 tables to decorate plus the ceiling and walls. It will not look like a gym when we get through! I am so blessed to have lots of ladies who are willing helpers. I am looking forward to a great time with them as we work together.

Now for some cards! First up is my card for the Color Dare #39. I know, I know. This should have been posted on Wednesday, but as I said, I am just now catching up!

This week the colors were Tempting Turquoise, Crushed Curry and Perfect Plum. Where does Riley get these combos? One thing for sure, participating on a design team really stretches you creativity! I love it!! My paying job is very boring, so this is a great outlet for me. I hope you like how I made these colors work together.

Next is my card for the Featured Stamper Challenge over on Splitcoast Stampers last Sunday. The FS for this week was none other that my niece, Riley, better known as dancerriley on SCS. I am so excited for her. It was hard to decide on a card to case, but I finally decided on this one:

I needed a special card to send to my daughter who is changing into a woman right before my eyes! She has met a special young man and she is so excited. My next card is one I made to send to this young man to let him know we enjoyed meeting him last week-end. He was pretty nervous, but conducted himself so well. He definitely has potential!

Color Dare #38

2009-10-14T07:53:00.005-04:00

Today's Color Dare Challenge was a REAL challenge for me!! We were to use Crushed Curry, Taken with Teal, Melon Mambo and Basic Gray. I made the card at the top first. I REALLY struggled with it--maybe because I wish my hair was still that color (naturally), but honestly it was the color combo. I decided to give it another try and the next card is what I came up with. I had not inked this set yet, so I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to get it wet! The bear took about six tries to get him right, but I am pleased with the outcome. I think it turned out right cute!

Let's see what you can do with this one! Visit the Color Dare at http://colordare.blogspot.com/ and play along. I will be looking for your entry!

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Love Those Color Challenges

2009-10-08T22:04:00.003-04:00

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day here in North Carolina. I wish I could have been outside more--oh well, gotta bring home that paycheck! Really, I am thankful for my job. There are so many people out of work, I thank God every day for the provision He has made for my family.

So, on to the color challenge! This week on Splitcoast Stampers we were to use Mellow Moss, Kraft and White. I couldn't leave off the Basic Black just to give the image some pop.

I pulled out my Snow Swirled set for the main image. The sentiment is from the Teen Tiny Wishes set (love that set!)

The card is pretty self explanatory. You may not be able to tell in the photo, but the star is done with shimmer paint! The card looks much prettier in real life.

Well, tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!! Looking forward to a great week-end!

Wednesday's Color Dare 37

2009-10-07T09:31:00.003-04:00

It is Wednesday again and time to play the Color Dare! This week we were to use:

Elegant Eggplant

Pumpkin Pie

Creamy Caramel

These colors just screamed--Falling Leaves!!!

I really have fallen in love with this set. I used my new Finial Press embossing folder and sponged the layer with Creamy Caramel. I also sponged the edges of the leaf circles. Then, I used my new favorite product from Stampin' Up--Shimmer Paint. For this project I used the Champaign Mist. It adds just a little sparkle! Tie on the sweet Pumpkin Pie striped grosgrain ribbon and the Grateful sentiment punched from the Word Punch and layerd on a piece of Creamy Caramel punched with the Modern Label punch. Wa-la--a fall card! Hope you like it!!

It's a Girl!

2009-10-06T21:09:00.003-04:00

Two weeks ago tomorrow a friend of mine gave birth to a little girl--Elizabeth Ashlee Johns. She was greeted by her three brothers! Yes, three. We were hoping for Martha to have a girl and yeah--she did! I wanted to make a card to go with her gift.

I decided to use the Mojo107 sketch.

Chocolate Chip was used for the base. I added a layer of Whisper White and then prints from the Bella Birds Designer Paper. Then I added my yummy wide Pink Pirouette grosgrain ribbon with my even more yummy Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon. For my image, I chose the baby carriage from the Puns from the Past stamp set, stamped with Chocolate Chip ink. I used my Nestibilities to cut the graduated circles. The finishing touch --pearls! I know Martha will love this card. I had fun creating it for her and Elizabeth!

As Promised....

2009-10-05T20:23:00.002-04:00

Another card using the Patterned Pines set! This time I used Elegant Eggplant for my card base. Then I stamped the trees using Garden Green and layered the image piece with Mellon Mambo. For a little texture, I embossed a piece of Pink Pirouette with the Petals a Plenty embossing folder, layered with a piece of Garden Green and then added the Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon. No card is complete without a little bling....so I added a purple rhinestone brad to the top of each tree. Thanks for looking!

Happy Monday!

2009-10-05T08:42:00.002-04:00

Good morning! It is a rainy day in Raleigh. I wish I could stay home and stamp, but first off to the dentist to start work on a crown and then to work. I did have some time yesterday to play and this is what I came up with.

Card Recipe:

Patterned Pines stamp set

Garden Green, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette and Basic Black Cardstock

Melon Mambo ink

I started with a card base using Garden Green. The next layer is my beloved Pink Pirouette (In-Colors '08). Then I added a layer of Melon Mambo. This layer has been dry embossed using the Petals a Plenty folder. The patterned pines needed a little contrast, so I added a border of Basic Black which then led me to my new Black stripe grosgrain ribbon. Clear rhinestone brads top each of the trees to give a little sparkle. This was a very quick and easy card and I love how it turned out!

Now--off to the dentist! Hopefully I can play the Mojo Monday sketch challenge later today!

Wednesday is Color Dare Day!

2009-09-30T21:42:00.002-04:00

I always look forward to Wednesday for two reasons. I love the mid-week service at my church and I get to see all the entries for the Color Dare. Check them out at colordare.blogspot.com. Here is my entry for this week.

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, Teen Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Barely Banana, Creamy Caramel, Thoroughly Modern DP

I used some wide Barely Banana striped ribbon to give this card some punch! Paper piercing in the lower left corner adds a little interest, but the icing is the gold stickles on the leaves---can you see them in the picture? I love doing the Color Dare! Thanks, Riley for some great combinations!

Happy Birthday Mary!

2009-09-28T20:37:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is my baby sister's birthday. I was able to spend the week-end with her and this is the card I gave her. Since I was hand delivering this one, I really added the layers!

I also used my new matchbox die to make a box of cutouts for her. Of course, I gave her some new stampin' toys. I hope she will have some time to play soon!

As I mentioned, I was with Mary over the week-end to celebrate not only her birthday, but also to attend Homecoming at Marsh Memorial United Methodist Church. It was the 50th anniversary of the sanctuary and building that we attended while growing up. We had a great time and ate entirely too much good food. The only disappointment was not finding a box behind the cornerstone. I guess in 1959 they just were not thinking about someone looking behind the stone for treasure 50 years later! The finale of the homecoming festivities was a concert by the Staunton River Boys. This was a group of men from several different churches who travel around the state and sing. They were a real blessing!

Happy Wednesday!

2009-09-23T08:52:00.001-04:00

I always love Wednesday's. It means we are half way to the week-end! Most of my stamping is done on the week-ends so they are very special to me. This week-end is a little different. All of my family is meeting in Lynchburg for a special homecoming at Marsh Memorial United Methodist Church. They are opening the time capsule that was buried when the church building was started. It is going to be a very special time!

Wednesday also means a new Color Dare! Check it out here: http://colordare.blogspot.com/

This is my card for this week. Hope you like it!

First SU Event Today

2009-09-19T22:16:00.002-04:00

Well, it was a little disappointing, but at least it is under my belt. I held my first Stampin' Up Open House today. Twenty invitations resulted in two attendees! But, that is okay. I think they are both interested in My Digital Studio and participating in my Stamp Club to start in October. I may be off to a slow start, but I am just going to keep on plugging along. I love paper crafting!

After I cleaned up from my bomb of an event :) I made this card.

Stamp Set: Holy Family
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla, Old Olive
Ink: Timber Brown Stazon; SU Markers and Blender Pen

I started with a Bravo Burgundy card base and rounded the corners with the corner rounder. I cut a piece of Very Vanilla slightly smaller, rounded the outside corners only and ran through the Big Kick in the Holly Cuttlebug embossing folder. Next I cut a Top Note out of Old Olive. The image was stamped on watercolor paper using Timber Brown Stazon ink and then colored with SU Stampin' Write Markers. The image was then cut with the Curved Rectangles Nestibilities. I stamped the star with Versamark and embossed with gold embossing powder. The halo around the baby's head was also embossed in gold. Then I used a sponge dauber and sponged all visible surfaces with Champaigne Mist Shimmer Paint--love that stuff! I added the 1 1/4 inch striped Old Olive grosgrain ribbon and cinched it at the top with a piece of Old Olive satin ribbon.

I am really please with the results. I will definitely be making another card with this set. So pretty!

Color Dare 34

2009-09-17T08:19:00.002-04:00

I just love the Color Dare colors for this week!

Blush Blossom

Certainly Celery

Chocolate Chip

I knew this had to be a baby card, so I reached for one of my favorite sets, Bundled in Love. I used two different Cuttlebug embossing folders to give the card some depth. My corner rounder and eyelet border punch add a delicate touch. I sponged the edges of the image layer with Chocolate Chip and added the green rhinestone brads for a little bling. The Certainly Celery ribbon finishes off the project. Hope you like it!

You can see all the other great design team entries here:

http://colordare.blogspot.com/

Hope you have a great week-end! Happy Stamping!!

My Best Buddie

2009-09-15T14:32:00.002-04:00

Well, I have been so busy getting ready for my first Stampin' Up event this week-end that I haven't been able to post a new card. So, here is a picture of my best buddy, Snickers. He really keeps me company now that the kids are all gone and David is travelling.

Speaking of my first SU event--I am so excited! I sent out 20 invitations to an open house. I just want to get the word out that I am selling Stampin' Up products. I don't really care if I get any sales, well, it would be nice. But, mainly, I want my friends to make a card and see how much fun they can have with just a few simple supplies. I would like to get 3-4 people to be in my first Stamp Club that will meet once a month. The fee for the club meeting will be $10 or a $40 order. Anyone is invited this Saturday, September 19 from 1:00-4:00pm.

Autumn Birthday

2009-09-10T08:28:00.002-04:00

Good Morning! I am really enjoying this beautiful fall weather. The Color Throwdown challenge this week just screamed for a card with a fall theme. Here is what I did.

My card base is Close to Cocoa. I added a layer of Pumpkin Pie to give it dimension. Using the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge for this week, I added the next layer. I use Pumpkin Pie as the base again with Close to Cocoa on top. I stamped in Versamark, the leaves from the Falling Leaves set. Then embossed with clear embossing powder. Next I used the same embossing technique on the Ruby Red piece that I edged with the spiral punch. Now for the main image! I stamped my image (Crazy for Cupcakes) onto watercolor paper. I watercolored the image using SU markers and a blender pen. After the image was completely dry, I ran it through my crimper first one way and then the other. This technique is called the Seersucker Technique. I then sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa. The main image panel is layered with Ruby Red and Close to Cocoa and popped up on dimensionals. For a finishing touch, I added Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon. The Happy Birthday sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Sentiments set. What card is complete without some bling! I added three small square crystals to the top left corner of the image and then iced my cupcakes with Crystal Effects. Yummy!

Hope you have a wonderful Thursday!

Color Dare Design Team

2009-09-09T11:06:00.004-04:00

I am honored to be a member of the Color Dare Design Team. Here is my first post for the team. Hope you like it!

Check out the Color Dare website to see how the rest of the team used these colors.

http://colordare.blogspot.com/

Stamp Set: Gifts of Christmas
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum and Old Olive

Take Three

2009-09-07T21:47:00.002-04:00

Wow! Three posts in one day. This is my card for today's Mojo
Monday 103 sketch challenge.

Stamp Set: Gifts of the Earth
Cardstock: Natural Ivory, Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke
Ink: Brown Stazon

I sponged the edges with Always Artichoke and paper pierced the corner of my image. The Riding Hood Red stripe ribbon adds the finishing touch.

Well, it has been an awesome Labor Day! I have done all my favorite things--cook, sew, stamp and talked to my daughter for over an hour! Life is good!

2009-09-07T15:58:00.002-04:00

Wow! What a rainy day we are having today. I have accomplished so much. I finished a tote bag for a friend and now I can do some paper crafting. Yard work was on the agenda for this afternoon, but I am content to stay inside with my paper and scissors! Here are some little bags I made late last night!

Happy Labor Day!

2009-09-07T11:18:00.003-04:00

Today I want to share a sewing project with you. I call this my Ultimate Tote. My customers love all the pockets and the sturdy construction. This one has an elastic strap on the inside that is perfect for holding a baby bottle or bottle of water. Here is a picture of the inside.

Enjoy!

I Made It!

2009-09-04T19:30:00.004-04:00

Yes, I finally made it! I started this card on Wednesday for the Color Dare and I finally finished it tonight. The last part of this week really got crazy, but it's the week-end and Monday is a holiday--woohoo!

Here's the scoop!

Color Dare #32
Cameo Coral, Bermuda Bay, So Saffron (Washington Apple DP)

Stamp Set: Crazy for Cupcakes
Ink: Basic Black

I paper pieced the cupcake with Ginger Blossom DP and Thoroughly Modern DP. I just love the little rainbow sentiment and the yummy polka dot Bermuda Bay ribbon. Brushed silver brads and Stickles finish it off.

Hope you enjoy your long week-end. Check in from time to time to see my new posts

Don't forget to check out my Stampin' Up website. I have a special going on until October 31 that you don't want to miss!

Happy Stamping!

Mojo and Color

2009-09-02T08:24:00.003-04:00

The card I want to share with you today is for the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge 102 and the Splitcoast Color Challenge CC234. I pulled out two of my new SU sets for this card. I made the card larger (A7) so I would have plenty of room to add my artwork. Here is what I used:

Stamp Sets: Wings of Friendship, Of the Earth

Cardstock: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo and Razzleberry Lemonade DP

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Basic Black

I embellished the card with SU ribbon, brads and black corner punches. I like the way this turned out. I am beginning to prefer the larger size card over the A2 size.

Today is the first day to order from the Holiday Mini!

2009-09-01T08:10:00.002-04:00

It's here! Today you can order from the Stampin' Up Holiday Mini Catalog. There are lots of great stamp sets in this catalog and the Hostess Benefits are wonderful. If you host a workshop between now and November 30 and your orders total $250 or more, you choose any one item* from the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10!

*Offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio.

Speaking of My Digital Studio!!! Stampin' Up will be releasing a digital scrapbooking product on October 1, 2009. This product offers much more than scrapbooking. With My Digital Studio you will be able to create scrapbooks, calendars and cards with the ability to print them yourself, or send to SU's printer for professional printing. I will have samples to show you in the next few weeks! FYI--My Digital Studio may be used on a PC or a Mac!

Have a great Tuesday everyone!!

Rainy Monday

2009-08-31T07:48:00.003-04:00

It is a rainy and somewhat cooler day today. Praise the Lord. We need the rain and the cooler temperature is welcomed! We have been pretty hot the last few weeks.

Last night I made this card for my cousin who is battling cancer. His birthday is on Wednesday and I wanted to wish him a happy day. Hopefully he will be able to go home from the hospital before Wednesday so he can celebrate at home.

I used my old favorite stamp set Lovely as a Tree--what a GREAT set! The cardstock is Kraft, Whisper White and Parisian Summer Speciality DP. Elegant Cheer was used for the sentiment and the inside sentiment came from God's Blessings set. I used the scallop border punch and the corner rounder to give the card a special touch. The velvet ribbon and hardware finishes it off. Hope you like it!

Here is another card I made over the weekend. A young lady in my church is getting married in October and we had a shower for her last night before service. It was a perfect opportunity to play with my new Great Friend set and Cottage Garden DP. I also used my new matchbox die. I am loving all this new stuff!!!!

With both kids out of the house and hubby travelling this month, I expect to get soooo much accomplished in my stamp and sew room. Who knows, I may even get around to sewing on my cards! Until tomorrow when I hope to have a sewing project to show--remember God loves you!

2009-08-28T21:50:00.002-04:00

TGIF finally! I think it is time to start making my Christmas card stash. I used the Keep Christmas set that recently retired. It is a great set to water color. I used my SU markers and blender pen. The card stock is Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Ruby Red. I also used retired Holiday Treasure designer paper. The yummy on this card is the gorgeous Old Olive wide striped ribbon. The image is popped up on dimensionals. This should get me started!

2009-08-26T22:43:00.003-04:00

I made this card for the Color Dare today. I just love these colors!

Color Dare 31

Kraft, Chocolate, More Mustard and Bashful Blue

Stamps: Garden Silhouettes, Organic Grace